Embracing Debate

Riding the momentum of recent success, the Georgia Tech Debate Team is preparing for upcoming tournaments and reaching out to students interested in joining. 

Eight debaters recently competed against several of the top debate schools in the country at Vanderbilt University, and six of them won honors. Competing in the British Parliamentary format (BP/WUDC), Emma Poma and Rafay Hadi navigated the preliminary and knockout rounds to become the tournament runners-up.  

Fifteen minutes before each round, the teams are given a topic — which can range from global economics to science — and assigned a position, arguing for or against the motion. The format forces the team to work quickly and critically to craft their argument. While they often find themselves arguing against their own opinions, Poma believes there’s an upside to identifying alternative viewpoints.  

"Debate has made me a less strictly opinionated person because I’ve come to see how both sides of an opinion have validity and reasons to believe what they believe, and that's allowed me to take a more nuanced approach in life," she said.  

Hadi, originally from Pakistan, says debate has been an invaluable part of his experience as an international student and hopes other students will see the club’s value beyond competition.  

"It's always been more challenging to communicate because English isn't my first language, but debate has become my bridge. In conversation and job interviews, it's become exponentially easier to articulate and explain my thought process. For those who may not share my experience as an international student but aren't used to public speaking or are afraid of public speaking, debate can help you gain confidence in your ideas and beliefs," he said. 

Hadi and Poma have participated in debate since high school, but no prior experience is required to join the club.  

"Just show up to practice, and we'll get you started. So many people are interested in current affairs and have discussions about politics, economics, or other topics, and the benefit of debate is that you find an outlet for that and a productive way to build real knowledge," Hadi said.  

Six team members will travel to the University of California-Berkeley for a tournament March 8 – 9, where they hope to continue their success. In addition to Hadi and Poma's second-place finish at Vanderbilt, Rebecca Bi and Marissa Mandir won the novice subcategory. In November, two debaters placed at a Wake Forest University tournament, marking the team's first participation in the prestigious NDT-CEDA Policy Debate Circuit.  

While the BP/WUDC format is the more common debate structure, the club also hosts and competes in policy debates, allowing more research and preparation. 

Programs typically have a coach present for all tournaments, but Poma and Hadi take pride in their team being primarily student-led with support from the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. As the team continues to grow, they plan to enter additional tournaments and elevate the program's standing in the competitive debate landscape.